Preparing for Treatment Programme — Information for Professionals
Supporting your patients to feel as well as possible before treatment begins.
The Preparing for Treatment Programme is a free, multimodal programme run by Penny Brohn UK, supporting people with cancer to feel as well as possible before treatment begins. The programme draws on Penny Brohn UK’s extensive catalogue of live and on-demand services, meaning clients have immediate access to a wide range of specialist-led support from the moment they join.
The evidence for prehabilitation
Macmillan Cancer Support identifies prehabilitation as an important and valuable part of the cancer pathway, with benefits that can be observed in as little as two weeks. Evidence cited in Macmillan’s Principles and Guidance for Prehabilitation indicates that effective prehabilitation can:
- Reduce length of hospital stay
- Reduce post-treatment complications
- Enhance recovery after cancer treatment
- Improve cardiovascular fitness and nutritional status
- Improve neuro-cognitive function
- Enhance overall quality of life
- Provide patients with a sense of personal empowerment, control and purpose
Macmillan’s guidance also emphasises that prehabilitation works best when it is multimodal, combining physical activity, nutritional support and psychological wellbeing, and when it is integrated into the cancer pathway as early as possible following diagnosis.
Source: Macmillan Cancer Support, Principles and Guidance for Prehabilitation, reviewed July 2024 (macmillan.org.uk)
For full details about our screening process, eligibility and exclusion criteria across all three pillars, please download our guide for healthcare professionals.
How to refer
We encourage clients to self-refer where possible. Evidence from our pilot shows that self-referred clients are more likely to engage with the programme. Please share the link below with your patients so they can read about the programme and sign up directly.
If you already have consent from your patient to pass on their details, you are welcome to use the HCP referral form below. Please note this form will eventually be removed as we transition fully to self-referral.
If you need to refer a patient specifically into our targeted nutrition pathway, please use the dedicated nutrition referral form.
We are proudly working in collaboration with the BNSSG Integrated Care Board, alongside local NHS Physiotherapists, Dietitians, and hospital teams. Together, we’re building a joined-up approach to cancer prehabilitation that supports the whole person and complements NHS care.
FAQs
Unfortunately not. As a cancer charity, our eligibility criteria require a confirmed cancer diagnosis. In the meantime, you may want to point them towards Penny Brohn UK’s wider services, including our Treatment Support Programme, which supports people through the effects of treatment. We’d encourage clients to sign up once they have a diagnosis.
Yes. Eligibility for the targeted nutrition service is based on where the patient’s clinical team is based and where they live. As long as their team is at NBT or UHBW, we can support them. All other pillars, exercise and psychological wellbeing, are available nationwide, so all referrals are welcome regardless of where the patient lives. If a patient’s care falls outside BNSSG, we would encourage them to self-refer to their local trust’s dietitian service.
Absolutely. The programme is designed to meet people where they are. If a patient is already active, they are very welcome to engage with the nutrition and psychological wellbeing pillars. We’re keen to support people with whichever elements are most relevant to them.
The programme is designed specifically for people with a confirmed cancer diagnosis who are preparing for treatment or surgery. However, carers and family members are welcome to attend sessions alongside their loved one. This can be a great way for them to understand how to offer support at home. Penny Brohn UK also offers wider support for people affected by cancer; we’d recommend directing carers to the main Penny Brohn UK website for more information.
The universal offer, including live sessions and the on-demand hub, is available to clients as soon as they have completed the welcome process and screening. Waiting times for 1-to-1 sessions may vary. We will keep you updated if there are any significant delays.
The programme is primarily designed for the prehabilitation phase, before treatment begins. However, we can support people who are undergoing neo-adjuvant treatment, such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy before surgery, to build their strength and resilience ahead of their procedure. If you are unsure whether a patient is suitable, please contact us and we can advise. If a patient is already in active treatment, we would recommend they explore Penny Brohn UK’s wider services, including our flagship Treatment Support Programme which is a four-week programme supporting people through exercise, nutrition, emotional wellbeing and complementary therapies.
Get in touch If you have any questions about eligibility, the referral pathway, or what is most appropriate for your patient, please contact us at prehab@pennybrohn.org.uk
No, if they are seeing a dietitian, this means that their MUST score is likely above 2 or their PG-SGA score is above 4 and they would be out of the scope for this service (please see more detailed criteria in our ‘How to refer – For Professionals document’. They are welcome to attend and use any of our universal services, but they are always encouraged to discuss what they have learned with their team before implementing anything. Please remember our nutrition 1-2-1s are only for BNSSG clients at present.